The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released important updates for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2026 Session 1. This exam is for students aiming for engineering and architecture colleges. NTA announced the exam dates and issued city intimation slips on January 8, 2026 . These slips tell students their exam city and date. Many students are now wondering if their exam shift will be easy or tough. This article uses past year trends to suggest the likely difficulty levels for different exam days.
Students can download their city intimation slip from the official website, jeemain.nta.nic.in . You need your application number and password. The city slip helps you plan travel. Remember, this slip is not your admit card. The actual admit card, showing your exact exam center and shift timing, will be released 3 to 4 days before your exam date . Keep checking the NTA website for this update.
JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Exam Dates and Shifts
The JEE Main 2026 Session 1 exams are scheduled as follows:
- Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech) : Exam dates are January 21, 22, 23, 24, and 28, 2026 . There will be two shifts daily.
- Paper 2 (B.Arch/B.Plan) : This exam is on January 29, 2026 , with one shift only.
Here are the detailed timings for both papers:
| Exam Paper | Exam Dates | Shift 1 Timings | Shift 2 Timings |
| Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech) | January 21, 22, 23, 24, 28 | 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM | 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM |
| Paper 2 (B.Arch/B.Plan) | January 29 | 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM | (No second shift) |
Expected Difficulty of JEE Main 2026 Shifts
NTA tries to keep all question papers similar in difficulty. However, past JEE Main exams show small differences between shifts. Some shifts are often seen as harder than others. This analysis is based on trends from previous years:
| JEE Main Exam Dates | Expected Difficulty Level | Details Based on Past Years |
| First Day: January 21 | Easy to Moderate | Early exams usually have balanced papers. NTA often starts with a standard difficulty. Papers may have more calculations in Maths, but are generally manageable. |
| Mid Shifts: January 22 and 23 | Moderate to Tough | Mid-session exams sometimes have harder numerical problems in Physics or Maths. These shifts can require more focused problem-solving. |
| Later Shifts: January 24 and 28 | Tough | Later shifts or the last exam days are often perceived as the toughest. This is due to unpredictable question patterns. Maths-heavy papers usually feel harder and longer. Lengthy calculation problems can reduce attempts. |
What Students Should Do Now
Instead of worrying about specific shift difficulty, students should focus on thorough preparation. Strong preparation helps you perform well no matter the paper's difficulty. Follow these important steps:
- Revise Important Topics: Focus on chapters and topics with high marks weightage.
- Practice Past Papers: Solve previous JEE Main shifts' question papers to understand exam patterns.
- Improve Accuracy and Time: Practice answering questions correctly and quickly. Manage your time during the exam.
- Take Mock Tests: Regularly appear for full-length mock tests to get comfortable with the exam and improve speed.
Thorough preparation and smart study habits are your best tools for success in JEE Main 2026.
